Food Bluffton

Bluffton dining guide

Waterfront & May River Dining: Where to Eat on the Water

Bluffton's riverfront tables, Old Town spots a short stroll from the May River, and the dockside icons just over the bridge — who each one suits, and the practical details before you go.

Updated October 2026 · Written by the Food Bluffton team in Bluffton, SC

The May River is the reason Bluffton eats the way it does — the oysters on half shells and the shrimp on your plate came out of these waters, often that same morning. But true riverfront dining in Bluffton proper is rare and worth knowing exactly where it is: this guide maps the whole picture, from the Wharf Street oyster house that sits practically on the riverbank to the Old Town tables a few minutes' walk from the water.

We're Bluffton-first, so the guide starts on our side of the bridge. The island's famous dock restaurants come at the end — they're Hilton Head, but they're fifteen minutes away and some of the best waterfront dining in the Lowcountry, so pretending they don't exist would do you no favors. Every pick tells you who it's right for, where it sits, and the details before you go.

Right on the May River

1

Bluffton Oyster Company

The real thing — on the riverbank
Old Town Bluffton

Bluffton's only true riverfront restaurant, and the most authentic waterfront experience in town. The shuckers work local May River oysters behind the counter while you eat at outdoor tables with the marsh and the river in front of you. No frills, no pretense — just the water and the catch.

Best for: Oyster lovers, laid-back afternoons, anyone who wants the May River on a plate

Must order: Local May River oysters, fresh shrimp

Closes at 6pm — come at lunch or for an early dinner, not a late one.

Address:63 Wharf St, Bluffton, SC 29910
Phone:(843) 757-4010
Hours:Tue–Sat 11am–6pm
Price range:$$
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A short stroll from the water — Old Town tables

1

The Cottage Cafe, Bakery & Tea Room

Brunch near the river
Old Town Bluffton

A two-minute walk from the May River overlook in a lovingly restored cottage on Calhoun Street. The shrimp and grits taste like the river they came from, and the porch seats are the closest thing Old Town has to waterside brunch.

Best for: Weekend brunch, families, a slow morning near the water

Must order: Shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, fresh-baked pastries

Weekends draw a wait — arrive before 10am or expect to wait.

Address:38 Calhoun St, Bluffton, SC 29910
Phone:(843) 686-6916
Hours:Daily 8am–3pm
Price range:$
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2

Nunzio Restaurant + Bar

Date night near the river
Old Town Bluffton

Set just off Calhoun Street near the Church of the Cross grounds — the most photographed view of the May River in Bluffton — Nunzio pairs house-made pastas and fresh seafood with a wine list worth lingering over. Walk the river bluff after dinner.

Best for: Date nights, anniversaries, wine lovers

Must order: House-made pastas, fresh catch specials

Dinner only, closed Mondays — plan around it.

Address:2 Corpus Christi Rd, Bluffton, SC 29910
Phone:(843) 706-4444
Hours:Tue–Sun 5pm–10pm
Price range:$$$
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3

Roastfish & Cornbread

The river's catch, Gullah-style
Bluffton

On May River Road — the road that traces the river east into Old Town — Roastfish & Cornbread cooks the river's catch the Gullah-Geechee way: roasted fish, red rice, collards, cornbread. You're not sitting on the water, but you're eating it.

Best for: Authentic Lowcountry flavor, culture-rich dining, budget-friendly meals

Must order: Roasted fish, red rice, collard greens, cornbread

Closed Monday and Tuesday; lunch is the easiest seat.

Address:1251 May River Rd, Bluffton, SC 29910
Phone:(843) 757-2001
Hours:Wed–Sun 11am–8pm
Price range:$
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Worth the drive — island dock icons, 15 minutes over the bridge

1

Hudson's Seafood House on the Docks

A working shrimp dock
Hilton Head Island · North End

A Hilton Head icon since 1967, sitting on a working shrimp dock — the closest thing to Bluffton Oyster Company's authenticity on the island. Local shrimp caught that morning, on your plate by evening, with sunset views across the water that are simply unbeatable.

Best for: Sunset dinners, seafood purists, visitors who want the real dock experience

Must order: Local shrimp, fresh catch, she-crab soup

Sunset tables go fast — book ahead or arrive early.

Address:1 Hudson Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
Phone:(843) 681-2772
Hours:Daily 11am–10pm
Price range:$$
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2

Old Oyster Factory

Sunset dining on Broad Creek
Hilton Head Island

Set on a historic oyster factory site with sweeping Broad Creek views, the Old Oyster Factory is the dress-up version of waterfront dining — fresh local seafood, steaks, and Lowcountry signatures as the sun drops over the marsh.

Best for: Special occasions, sunset dinners, wine drinkers

Must order: Fresh local seafood, Lowcountry signatures

Dinner only — this is a sunset-and-celebration room.

Address:101 Marshland Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
Phone:(843) 681-6040
Hours:Daily 5pm–10pm
Price range:$$$
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3

Skull Creek Dockside

Casual, on the creek
Hilton Head Island · North End

Right on Skull Creek where the shrimp boats come in — cold beer, fresh-caught seafood, and Lowcountry boils with the creek's best casual views. If Hudson's is booked, Dockside is next door and every bit as close to the water.

Best for: Casual waterfront dinners, families, boat-watching

Must order: Lowcountry boil, fresh-caught seafood, cold beer

Easy to pair with Hudson's — they share the same dock road.

Address:2 Hudson Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
Phone:(843) 681-3474
Hours:Daily 11am–10pm
Price range:$$
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Know before you go

Golden hour owns the good seats

Waterfront tables fill as the sun drops — especially at the island dock restaurants. Book ahead or arrive by 5:30pm if the view is the point.

Oyster season is a real thing

Local May River oysters are at their best in the cooler months — the classic "months with an R" rule. In summer, lean on shrimp, fish, and the raw bar's cold options.

Palmetto Bluff has riverfront too

The May River's other great stretch runs along Palmetto Bluff, where the resort's riverside dining is open to visitors — see our Palmetto Bluff area guide for the details before you drive out.

Keep exploring

Old Town Bluffton Restaurants

Six Old Town picks, morning to night — most within a stroll of the river.

Best Seafood in Bluffton & Hilton Head

The ranked seafood list with must-order dishes at every stop.

Palmetto Bluff area guide

Resort dining and riverside walks on the May River's other bank.

All Bluffton restaurants

The full searchable directory with filters.

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